Duchess of Windsor jewels to make £3 million - 23/07/2010

Sotheby's will be selling 20 pieces of jewellery that once belonged to the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, in London on November 30th.

This is the first time that jewellery belonging to the wife of the former King of England, Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry her, has been auctioned for 23 years.

David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby's jewellery in Europe and the Middle East, said: "It is an extraordinary honour to bring once again to sale these jewels worn by a woman who was a leader of fashion and the epitome of elegance and sophistication for her generation and beyond."

Throughout the Prince of Wales's courtship of the American divorcee and their married life the couple commissioned pieces of jewellery from the house of Cartier.

Therefore several pieces by Cartier will be up for grabs including an onyx and diamond panther bracelet from 1952 and a flamingo brooch with rubies, diamonds, sapphires and emeralds purchased in 1940.

Other objects going under the hammer include inscriptions and engravings, which provide an insight into the couple's romance.

One such item is a heart-shaped emerald, ruby and diamond brooch by Cartier, which Edward gave to Wallis on their 20th wedding anniversary.

Posted by Oliver Greaves